Utilities are pushing back as they feel the pinch from the growing number of U.S. residents opting for leasing or buying rooftop solar-panel systems.

In Colorado, a utility is seeking a regulatory change that its critics say would reduce payments the utility makes for excess power generation from rooftop solar systems. Hawaii’s biggest utility has barred residents from connecting their solar systems to the grid, while in Arizona, regulators voted to charge solar users a monthly fee.

The Denver-Julesburg basin, Colorado’s richest oil field, is under water, raising concerns about operations and environmental contamination, this story on The Denver Post said.

Reuters

Thousands of wells have been affected, and some remain in rushing water, the newspaper added. Companies have shut the wells affected and companies are using boats and helicopters to assess the damage.

Torrential rains in Colorado caused deadly flash floods starting last week. Eight people have been killed and more than 600 remain unaccounted for. Flood warnings in parts of the state continued Tuesday.

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